Roadway travel data exchange network

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for exchange of travel data in a roadway information system associated with a first roadway vehicle and a second roadway vehicle. In one embodiment, the roadway information system may comprise, for example, a first mobile client system associated with the first roadway vehicle, a second mobile client system associated with the second roadway vehicle, a wireless communication network, and a processing system communicatively coupled to the wireless communication network. The first mobile client system may deliver first travel related data to the processing system via the wireless communication network. The processing system may deliver second travel related data to the second mobile client system via the wireless communication network, where the second travel related data relates at least in part to the first travel related data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application makes reference, claims priority to, and claims thebenefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/736,819 filed Dec. 15, 2003,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Information regarding vehicular travel is currently gathered using avariety of techniques. For example, information relating to vehicularaccidents is gathered through eyewitness reports to police or emergencypersonnel at the scene, or from motorist telephone reports received fromemergency phones or cellular phones. Traffic is also observed visuallyfrom helicopters, which may utilize video cameras to record such trafficand facilitate the reporting of various travel characteristics. Videocameras are also placed adjacent to certain roadways to allow remoteobservation of travel conditions in front of the camera. In addition,sensors may be placed on certain roadways in order to count vehicles.Motorists obtain the gathered travel information through a variety ofmeans, including television reports, radio reports, and internetwebsites.

Motorist reports of travel data are manually made on an ad hoc basis,and thus there often is no information regarding travel conditions in anarea of interest. Similarly, helicopters, video cameras and sensorscurrently are only deployed in certain areas. Since the cost of suchmonitoring devices is very high, and since they require trainedpersonnel to operate them, there are significant cost barriers thatprevent such monitoring devices from being used to cover a significantpercentage of roadways simultaneously. Additionally, because informationgathering from motorist report, video cameras, and helicopters isperformed manually, there can be significant latency when delivering thetravel information.

Another problem with current methods is that it is difficult formotorists to get travel information for a specific area whenever theywant such information. Television and radio broadcasts of travelinformation provide the same report to all listeners and viewers, andthus generally cover only the most commonly used roadways and the mostserious travel problems. This forces the motorist to listen or watch areport, which usually contains far more information than he or shedesires, and sometimes does not even contain the desired information atall. Additionally, the information is broadcast on the relevantstation's schedule, and not necessarily when the motorist needs theinformation. One effect is that information can be stale by the time itis reported to the motorist, either because the travel condition hascleared or because the motorist has passed the point at which he couldhave selected a different route to his destination. Some internetwebsites offer a more specific report providing only information for theareas of interest to the user, but these typically are not accessible tomotorists while they are operating their vehicles.

Vehicles today may contain equipment that utilize vehicle locationinformation to support theft recovery or operator assistance, e.g.,“LoJack” and “OnStar” equipment. The equipment communicates wirelesslywith remote central systems to provide such support.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with the present invention as setforth in the remainder of the present application with reference to thedrawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may be found in, for example, systemsand methods for exchange of travel data in a roadway information systemassociated with a first roadway vehicle and a second roadway vehicle. Inone embodiment, the roadway information system may comprise, forexample, a first mobile client system associated with the first roadwayvehicle, a second mobile client system associated with the secondroadway vehicle, a wireless communication network, and a processingsystem communicatively coupled to the wireless communication network.The first mobile client system may deliver first travel related data tothe processing system via the wireless communication network. Theprocessing system may deliver second travel related data to the secondmobile client system via the wireless communication network, where thesecond travel related data relates at least in part to the first travelrelated data.

In another embodiment, the roadway information system may comprise, forexample, a wireless communication network, a plurality of mobile clientsystems communicatively coupled to the wireless communication network,and a processing system communicatively coupled to the wirelesscommunication network. Each of the plurality of mobile client systemsmay deliver travel related information via the wireless communicationnetwork. In addition, the processing system generates and communicatesdata based on the travel related information delivered by each of theplurality of mobile client systems.

In yet another embodiment, a method in accordance with the presentinvention may comprise, for example, one or more of the following:delivering a first travel related data by a first mobile client systemto a processing system via a wireless communication network, the firstmobile client system associated with a first roadway vehicle; generatinga second travel related data by the processing system, the second travelrelated data related at least in part to the first travel related data;and delivering the second travel related data by the processing systemto a second mobile client system via the wireless communication network,the second mobile client system associated with a second roadwayvehicle.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention may beappreciated from a review of the following detailed description of thepresent invention, along with the accompanying figures in which likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a roadway travel dataexchange network supporting collection, processing and delivery oftravel data, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of client systems on theroadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1, for example, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a more specific embodiment of a clientsystem on the roadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1, forexample, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle interface onthe plurality of client systems of FIG. 2, for example, in accordancewith various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of post-processinginformation delivery systems on the roadway travel data exchange networkof FIG. 1, for example, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a storage andprocessing system on the roadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1,for example, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a general embodiment of a method forcollection and delivery of travel data on the roadway travel dataexchange network of FIG. 1, for example, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment of the roadway travel data exchangenetwork of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a network supporting the collection,processing and exchange of roadway travel data. The collection isperformed automatically, or upon request, from a plurality of roadwayvehicles and supporting collection systems. After processing thecollected travel data, the processed data and instructions are deliveredto the collecting roadway vehicles and to other client systems.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a roadway travel data exchange network100 supporting collection, processing and exchange of travel data, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention. The roadwaytravel data exchange network 100 comprises a communicationinfrastructure 115, pluralities of client systems 103 and 119,supporting collection systems 105, and a storage and processing system117. The plurality of client systems 103 comprise collection systems 111and retrieval/post-processing systems 113. However, the plurality ofclient systems 119 comprise retrieval/post-processing systems 113 and nocollection systems 111.

The plurality of client systems 103 collect travel data and deliver thecollected data to the storage and processing system 117 via thecommunication infrastructure 115. The storage and processing system 117also receives collected travel data from the supporting collectionsystems 105. These collection processes occur both periodically and inreal time.

To support the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119, the storageand processing system 117 correlates, combines and otherwise processesthe collected travel data to generate processed data and instructions.The processed data and instructions are delivered to the pluralities ofclient systems 103 and 119 via the communication infrastructure 115 forpost-processing. Post-processing by the pluralities of client systems103 and 119 may include, for example, communicating the processed datato the user, further computation, control and storage.

Some of the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119 are installed inroadway vehicles. Others of the pluralities of client systems 103 and119 are portable devices that may be carried inside roadway vehicles.Yet other of the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119 are neitherinstalled nor carried inside roadway vehicles. The plurality of clientsystems 103, installed or associated with roadway vehicles: (1) collecttravel data via the collection systems 111; (2) exchange collectedtravel data with the storage and processing system 117, the clientsystems 119, others of the client systems 103, and the supportingcollection systems 105; and (3) post-process travel data retrieved fromthe storage and processing system 117, the client systems 119, others ofthe client systems 103, and the supporting collection systems 105.Although the plurality of client systems 119 do not perform collection,they also post-process such retrieved and received travel data via thecommunication infrastructure from the systems 117, 103, 105, 117 andother client systems 119.

The pluralities of client systems 103 and 119 may be categorized asmulti-purpose or dedicated client systems. The characteristic feature ofa multi-purpose client system is that it may perform various functionsrelated to the travel data as well as additional functions that are notrelated to travel data. A dedicated client system can only performfunctions related to the travel data.

Collection of travel data by the plurality of client systems 103 isaccomplished in several ways. Some of the plurality of client systems103 receive instructions from the systems 117, 119 and 105 and fromothers of the client systems 103 to deliver, or collect and deliver,certain travel data. Any of the plurality of client systems 103 may bepre-configured or instructed to regularly collect and deliver suchtravel data without awaiting specific requests. Such “pre-arranged”collection and delivery can occur continuously or as travel data becomesavailable. The collection and delivery process performed by each of theplurality of client systems 103 may be activated or deactivated via thecommunication infrastructure or through direct interaction with theclient systems 103. The retrieval and post-processing of the pluralityof client systems 103 may be similarly activated or deactivated.

Another way for collecting information is for the plurality of clientsystems 103 to automatically initiate collection (and subsequentdelivery) of travel data. For example, upon sensing motion, periodiccollection and delivery might be automatically initiated by the clientsystems 103. Such client system 103 might also periodically collect anddeliver the moving vehicle's geographic location, its speed, directionand other travel data. Alternatively, the plurality of client systems103 may be triggered manually to initiate collection and/or delivery oftravel data.

After processing travel data delivered by one of the plurality of clientsystems 103, the storage and processing system 117 may return processedtravel data and/or instructions to the delivering one of the pluralityof client systems 103. In addition, the storage and processing system117 delivers the processed travel data and related instructions toothers of the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119. For example,processed travel data may be delivered to one of the client systems 103in response to travel data collected from another of the client systems.Any of the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119 that receive theprocessed travel data or related instructions may forward same orpost-process and forward post-processed data or instructions to yetothers of the pluralities of client systems 103 and 119.

The roadway travel data exchange network 100 is enhanced with capabilityof receiving additional information that may relate to travel. Suchadditional travel-related information may be collected by supportingcollection systems 105. For example, various governmental agencies ornews organizations will have the capability to contribute travel-relateddata. Governmental agencies that may contribute travel-related data tothe roadway travel data exchange network include, for example, a localcity police department, a state police department, a sheriff'sdepartment, a highway patrol, and a meteorological agency. Thetravel-related data may be collected by using a client system 103, in asimilar manner as discussed above. The travel-related data may comprise,for example, information about the number of vehicles that pass througha certain part of a road, vehicle speed, and direction of travel. If thetravel-related data is collected by the governmental agencyrepresentative using a device similar to a client system 103, the devicemay automatically collect and transmit the travel-related data to thestorage and processing system 117 for further processing. Thegovernmental agency representative may also collect travel-related databy observation and then enter it into the roadway travel data exchangenetwork by transmitting it directly to the storage and processing system117. For example, a police officer may be monitoring a busy roadintersection and may observe a traffic accident. As a result of theaccident, all lanes of the road may become blocked and traffic flow mayquickly deteriorate. The police officer may then transmit to the storageand processing system 117 his exact location and the fact that thespecific road has been blocked in both directions due to a trafficaccident.

The supporting collection systems 105 may comprise, for example,weather-related data collection systems. The weather-related data may beautomatically collected by weather sensors placed at key intersections,highways, or roads. The weather-related data may include, for example,outside temperature, precipitation amount and emergency weather data(such as information for an approaching tornado). Certainweather-related data may be entered into the roadway travel dataexchange network and transmitted to the storage and processing system117 via a client system 103. The supporting collection systems 105 mayalso comprise a meteorological data collection system that deliverstravel data in the form of weather information to the storage andprocessing system 117.

The supporting collection systems 105 also deliver travel data directlyto the client systems 103 and 119 for post-processing via thecommunication infrastructure 115. Instructions may also be delivered bythe supporting collection systems 105 to the storage and processingsystem 117 or the client systems 103 and 119 via the communicationinfrastructure 115.

The pluralities of client systems 103 and 119 have display capabilitiesso that collected and processed travel data may be displayed for a useras part of the post-processing functionality of theretrieval/post-processing systems 113. For example, some of theplurality of client systems 103 transmit geographic location(corresponding to either the location of the client system or any otherselected location) to the storage and processing system 117, requestingrelated weather and speed information. In response to such request, thestorage and processing system 117 uses the geographic location to accessstored travel data to produce the related weather and speed informationfor delivery to the requesting client system.

The communication infrastructure 115 may comprise a single communicationnetwork or a plurality of communication networks. Such networks maycomprise wired and wireless portions. More specifically, collection ofinformation and transmission of the collected information via thecommunication infrastructure 115 may be accomplished by using wirelesstransmission methods, such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) orWideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). Collection andtransmission on the communication infrastructure 115 may also beaccomplished using radio, 802.11 network, ultrawideband communication,or any other means that allow sufficient freedom of movement. Deliveryof information on the communication infrastructure 115 can beaccomplished by using the same wireless transmission methods that areused for transmission of the collected information. In addition,delivery via the communication infrastructure 115 may be accomplished byusing a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, adigital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internetinfrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, aclosed communication infrastructure, and a local area network.Complimentary technology exists on the roadway travel data exchangenetwork 100, including the storage and processing system 117, and theclient systems 103 and 119 in order to use the communicationinfrastructure and process travel data on the roadway travel dataexchange network.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the roadway travel dataexchange network may comprise a plurality of storage and processingsystems. For example, in order to increase efficiency in the exchange ofinformation, a storage and processing system may be placed near severalmajor roads or intersections so that travel data may be reported to thestorage and processing system which is closest to the reporting vehicle.The plurality of storage and processing systems may be connectedtogether, or to a main storage and processing system, via thecommunication infrastructure 115. The plurality of processing systemsmay each be deployed to provide different services or portions of anoverall service offering. In such cases, the client systems may employpost-processing that correlates or otherwise combines the services orservice information delivered by the plurality of processing systems.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of clientsystems 103 may be utilized, as well as a plurality of client systems119. Travel data that is collected by one or more of the collectionsystems 111 on the client systems 103 may be transmitted to, andprocessed by, a storage and processing system. Subsequent results may beutilized by the same client systems 103 which collected the travel data,or by other client systems 103. The same results, however, may also beutilized by one or more of the retrieval/post-processing systems 113 onthe plurality of client systems 119.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of client systems on theroadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1, for example, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention. The pluralityof client systems 201 may comprise one or more of the multipurposeclient systems 203 and/or one or more of the dedicated client systems205. More specifically, the multipurpose client system 203 may be, forexample, one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA) 207, acellular phone 209, a laptop computer 211, and a global positioningsystem (GPS) device 213. The multipurpose client system 203 is enabledto collect, transmit, receive and deliver travel data. However, themultipurpose client system 203 may perform additional functions as well.For example, the PDA 207 may store and recall personal information. Thededicated client system 205 may only perform functions related to thetravel data. The dedicated client system 205 may comprise a clientsystem 215 physically embedded (“hardwired”) in the vehicle. A dedicatedclient system 205 may also be designed as a portable dedicated unit 217.

FIG. 3 illustrates a more specific embodiment of one of the clientsystems 201 in the roadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1, forexample, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Inorder to accomplish efficient exchange of travel data, the client system201 comprises a user interface 303, a processor 311 and a communicationinterface 313.

The client system 201 is adapted to collect, transmit, receive anddeliver travel data. Where the client system 201 is “dedicated” orembedded in a vehicle, a vehicle interface 315 supports the collectionof travel data related to the vehicle in which it is embedded. Suchtravel data may comprise, for example, information on the vehicle speed,tire pressure, airbag deployment, etc.

In the present embodiment, geographic location information of a vehicleis determined through location circuitry. If the location circuitry ispresent in the vehicle in which the client system is located, then thelocation circuitry will deliver the geographic location information tothe client system 201 via the vehicle interface 315. However, if thevehicle lacks location circuitry, the client system 201 may compriselocation circuitry within a location interface 316. For example, in oneembodiment, the location interface 316 comprises GPS (Global PositioningSystem) circuitry. In other embodiments, geographic location may bedetermined by any sufficiently reliable mechanisms for determininglocation, such as mechanisms employing triangulation techniques. The GPScircuitry may also assist in determining speed and direction of avehicle if such travel data may not be collected directly via thevehicle interface 315.

The user interface 303 comprises a keyboard 307, which may be used toenter travel data manually or otherwise interact with the client system201. For example, the keyboard might be used to request travel data fromthe storage and processing system 117. Of course, any other user inputdevices such as a touchscreen, mouse, buttons, dials or switches mightalso or alternatively be used.

Travel data which is delivered to the client system 201 is displayed ona display 305. The client system 201 may also provide for audiblenotification of the received travel data via speakers 309. Informationwhich is entered or received via the client system 201 is processed bythe processor 311. A communication interface 313 communicatively couplesthe client system 201 with the communication infrastructure so as toprovide access to the storage and processing system 117, for example.Through the communication interface 313, processed, post-processed andcollected travel data is exchanged. For example, the storage andprocessing system 117 delivers processed travel data to the clientsystem 201 for display and audible output on the display 305 andspeakers 309 respectively.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle interface ofthe client system of FIG. 2, for example, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. The vehicle interface 315 providesfunctionality for collecting travel data that is related to the vehiclein which it is embedded. Travel data that may be collected by a clientsystem may include, for example, a geographic location, a speed, adirection, an airbag status, an engine status, an outside temperature, adeployment status of vehicle brakes, a road precipitation status, arollover status, a tire pressure status, a deployment status of anacceleration pedal, and a fuel level.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of post-processinginformation delivery systems on the roadway travel data exchange networkof FIG. 1, for example, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. Various post-processing information delivery systems500 may be utilized in the retrieval/post-processing systems 113 ofFIG. 1. Travel data communicated from the storage and processing system117 may, for example, be delivered to a telephone 501, a computer 503, atelevision 505, a radio 507, a satellite 509, or a road sign display511.

The telephone 501 may, for example, be a dedicated telephone line. Usersof the roadway travel data exchange network may dial this dedicatedphone line and hear a recorded message with specific travel data. Thecontents of the recorded message may be periodically updated with newtravel data. Several post-processing information delivery systems may beutilized at the same time. For example, information about an accidentmay be displayed on a road sign display 511, while at the same time aradio 507 may broadcast information on alternate routes that may beutilized around the accident site.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a storage andprocessing system on the roadway travel data exchange network of FIG. 1,for example, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. The storage and processing system 117 comprises acommunication interface 605 for communicating with the roadway traveldata exchange network via the communication infrastructure 115. Traveldata received by the storage and processing system 117 via thecommunication interface 605 is processed by a processor 603, and issubsequently stored in storage 607. The storage 607 comprises severaldatabases, which are associated with the type of travel data theycontain. For example, the storage 607 comprises a traffic database 609,a roadways database 611, and a weather database 613. The trafficdatabase 609 stores all roadway travel data related to traffic. Theroadways database 611 stores information about the specific geographiclocation of a roadway network and specific roadway characteristics, suchas type of road, length, maximum allowed speed, number of lanes, etc.The weather database stores the weather-related data that is receivedfrom an supporting collection systems 105. The storage and processingsystem 117 may also comprise a user interface 601, which may allow anauthorized user to directly input into the storage and processing systemtraffic-related, roadway-related, or weather-related information, or toedit existing information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a general embodiment of a method 700for collection and delivery of travel data on the roadway travel dataexchange network of FIG. 1, for example, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. At 701, travel data is requested by astorage and processing system from a client system in a roadway traveldata exchange network. At 703, a multipurpose client system or adedicated client system collects the requested travel data. At 705, theplurality of client systems transmits the collected travel data to thestorage and processing system via a communication infrastructure. Afterthe travel data is processed by a storage and processing systemprocessor at 707, the travel data is then delivered, in 709, from thestorage and processing system to the same client system that collectedthe travel data, or to another client system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment 800 of the roadway travel dataexchange network of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. The roadway travel data exchange network 800comprises a plurality of multipurpose portable client systems 804, aplurality of embedded client systems 806 with integrated navigationcapability, a television 820, a personal computer 819, a cellulartelephone 823, a roadway information service 810, a roadway sign service808, a weather service 812, and a storage and processing system 817, allcommunicatively coupled to the Internet 814. The multipurpose portableclient systems 804 and the embedded client systems 806 arecommunicatively coupled to the Internet 814 via a cellular network 816.The multipurpose portable client systems 804 may comprise, for example,cellular phones, personal digital assistants and laptop computers beingoperated in a vehicle.

The storage and processing system 817 receives travel related dataperiodically transmitted from the multipurpose portable client systems804 and the embedded client systems 806, via the Internet 814 and thecellular network 816. In addition, the storage and processing system 817receives travel related data through the Internet 814 from the weatherservice 812 and from the roadway information service 810. The weatherservice 812 may be any available service that provides weather-relateddata, such as a governmental agency or a scientific agency, for example,the National Weather Service. The roadway information service 810 may beone or more organizations that track travel related data, such asdepartments of transportation and/or news organizations.

The storage and processing system 817 processes the travel related dataand then distributes the processed data, through the Internet 814 andthe cellular network 816, to at least one of the multipurpose portableclient systems 804 and the embedded client systems 806. Additionally,the storage and processing system 817 transmits processed travel relateddata to other client systems that were not involved in the collection ofthe original data. Such client systems may comprise a television 820, acellular telephone 823, a personal computer 819 with Internet access,and roadway sign service 808. For example, processed data may betransmitted from the storage and processing system 817, via the Internet814 and the television broadcast infrastructure 822, to the television820. The storage and processing system 817 may also distribute theprocessed travel related data to be displayed on the roadway signservice 808. All the connections to and from the Internet 814 may be,for example, wired or wireless.

The roadway travel data exchange network 800 may be deployed to providedifferent services. For example, in one such service, a plurality ofclient systems 804, 806 collect information relating to their respectivelocations and/or velocities, and provide such information to the storageand processing system 817, via the cellular network 816 and the internet814. The storage and processing system 817 processes the information tocreate a database of processed data representing current velocities forvehicles at various locations. A plurality of the client systems 804,806, 819, 820, 823 send requests for information relating to particularlocations to the storage and processing system 817 via the internet 814,cellular network 816 and/or television infrastructure 822. The storageand processing system 817 processes the requests and delivers to theplurality of client systems 804, 806, 819, 820, 823 data representingthe velocities of vehicles at the requested locations.

The plurality of client systems 804, 806, 819, 820, 823 post-process thedata received from the storage and processing system 817 to present thedata visually or audibly, or to make further calculations based on suchdata, such as, for example, calculating the fastest route to a givendestination given current traffic conditions. The data may additionallybe combined with map travel data to present a visual display of trafficconditions for the roadways within a given area, for example, withdifferent colors or levels of brightness used to represent differentvehicle speeds at different locations on the roadways.

In another such service, a plurality of client systems 804, 806, 819,820, 823 may track the location of a specified client system or systems804, 806 located in another vehicle or vehicles. Specifically, theplurality of client systems 804, 806, 819, 820, 823 each may sendinstructions to the storage and processing system 817 via the internet814, cellular network 816 and/or television infrastructure 822,representing a request for the location of a specified client system804, 806. The storage and processing system 817 processes the request.If the storage and processing system 817 already contains the requesteddata, it then delivers it to the plurality of client systems 804, 806,819, 820, 823. Otherwise, the storage and processing system 817instructs the specified client system 804, 806, via the internet 814 andcellular network 816, to provide the requested data. The specifiedclient system 804, 806 collects its location information and delivers itvia the cellular network 816 and the internet 814 to the plurality ofclient systems 804, 806, 819, 820, 823, and/or to the storage andprocessing system 817 for further delivery, processing and/or storage.Of course, the plurality of client systems 804, 806, 819, 820, 823alternatively may send instructions representing a request for thelocation of a specified client system 804, 806 directly to such clientsystem 804, 806, via the internet 814, cellular network 816 and/ortelevision infrastructure 822, rather than to the storage and processingsystem 817.

In one embodiment of the above service, a set of permissions is assignedto a given client system 804, 806 associated with a vehicle, such thatneither the given client system 804, 806 nor the storage and processingsystem 817 will deliver information relating to the given client system804, 806 to any other client system without prior authorization. Themechanism for assigning and changing permissions is protected by lock,password or other security device to assist in preventing unauthorizedmodification of such permissions. For example, a person traveling with afirst client system in a first vehicle 804 may give permission for aperson traveling with a second client system 806 in a second vehicle totrack such first vehicle, to allow the second person to easily followthe first person to an unfamiliar destination. In another example, aparent may set the permissions in a client system associated with his orher child's vehicle 804, 806, to allow the parent to track the child'slocation via his or her cellular phone 823, television 820, personalcomputer 819 or vehicle 806.

In another such service, various forms of data may be delivered inreal-time to the client systems 806 with integrated navigationcapabilities, via the cellular network 816 and the internet 814, from apersonal computer 819 or cellular telephone 823. Such data may comprisetext, audio and/or video, and may be delivered at the request of theclient system 806 with integrated navigation capabilities or at therequest of the sending client 819, 823. Similarly, data may be deliveredfrom the client systems 806 with integrated navigation capabilities, viathe cellular network 816 and the internet 814, from a personal computer819 or cellular telephone 823. For example, a client system 806 maycomprise or be communicatively coupled with a video camera within theassociated vehicle, and may collect video data for delivery to apersonal computer 819, such that the user of the personal computer mayprovide real-time directions or otherwise communicate in real-time withthe user of the client system 806 with integrated navigationcapabilities.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A mobile client system, comprising: at least one processor fordetermining location information of the mobile client system, whereinsaid determined location information comprises at least one of thefollowing: a current location information of the mobile client systemand a location information designated by a user of the mobile clientsystem, wherein the mobile client system communicates said determinedlocation information to a processing system, and wherein the mobileclient system receives from said processing system travel related databased at least in part on location information communicated by at leastone of a plurality of other mobile client systems and on said determinedlocation information of the mobile client system. 2-16. (canceled)